Sam Harvie, Worcester Socialist Party
I’ve been a socialist for most of my life. I lived under a Labour government and then Tory dominance – that brought austerity close to my working-class family’s home. Even as a kid, I grew up with a vast dislike of the monarchy and the rich.
During university, after seeing election after election and referendum after referendum, it was clear that the existing political set-up was not going to bring about real change.
Movement from below
However, I saw a more organised mass movement start to form under Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure as Labour leader. I reflected on how we could change society to work better for working people.
But, once this was squashed, by the neoliberal capitalists’ puppeteering Keir Starmer and his cronies, I had to think again: “What could I do?”
I spent hours across YouTube and social media diving more into socialist ideals. We need organised action. And that doesn’t start from inaction, but from each individual’s action. This was always present in what I was reading and viewing.
With US imperialist aggression abroad and British politicians targeting the most vulnerable through cuts and targeted rhetoric, I felt the need to act.
I took a leaflet
When Corbyn was touring the country in the run-up to the 2019 election, he visited Worcester. There, I was given a small leaflet from a member of the local Socialist Party branch, and felt a wave of optimism. But with the 2019 election defeat, this was short-lived.
However, that leaflet back then raised my awareness of a more organised avenue of action. Later I finally acted, and put my details forward on our local Socialist Party branch website, before going along to my first meeting.
